Abstract
Objective: Genetic factors are the most important determinant of final height in developed countries, while in underprivileged countries food intake is crucial. Nutrients, in turn, may importantly affect IGF-IGFBP system which is a critical regulator of growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of nutrition on IGF system components, as well as on growth by comparing these variables in two selected populations of children living either in poor or in privileged environmental conditions. Design: Height and weight were recorded in 38 normal African children, living in a Catholique Mission in Ivory Coast, and in 93 normal Italian children. IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3 and ALS were evaluated in all subjects. Results: A normal height in spite of markedly reduced IGF-I, IGFBP-3, ALS and BMI was observed in African children, while the ratio IGF-I/IGFBP-3 was comparable in the two populations. IGF-II was slightly but significantly higher in Africans than in Italians. Conclusions: In Africans a suboptimal nutritional condition may produce a dramatic reduction of IGF-I, ALS and IGFBP-3, although the final height results minimally affected. This suggests that only a small fraction of the circulating IGF-I is sufficient for growth and confirms what has been reported on liver IGF-I-deficient and ALS knock-out mice. The secular statural trend observed in developed countries is probably due to the increase of IGF-I consequent to the improved nutritional conditions.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 238-241 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Growth Hormone and IGF Research |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Jun 2009 |
Fingerprint
Keywords
- Height secular trend
- IGF-I
- IGF-II
- Nutrition
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Cite this
Effect of environment on growth : Auxological and hormonal parameters in African and Italian children. / Boschetti, Mara; Larizza, Daniela; Calcaterra, Valeria; Arvigo, Marica; Fazzuoli, Laura; Battista, Eliana Di; Ferone, Diego; Minuto, Francesco M.
In: Growth Hormone and IGF Research, Vol. 19, No. 3, 06.2009, p. 238-241.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Effect of environment on growth
T2 - Auxological and hormonal parameters in African and Italian children
AU - Boschetti, Mara
AU - Larizza, Daniela
AU - Calcaterra, Valeria
AU - Arvigo, Marica
AU - Fazzuoli, Laura
AU - Battista, Eliana Di
AU - Ferone, Diego
AU - Minuto, Francesco M.
PY - 2009/6
Y1 - 2009/6
N2 - Objective: Genetic factors are the most important determinant of final height in developed countries, while in underprivileged countries food intake is crucial. Nutrients, in turn, may importantly affect IGF-IGFBP system which is a critical regulator of growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of nutrition on IGF system components, as well as on growth by comparing these variables in two selected populations of children living either in poor or in privileged environmental conditions. Design: Height and weight were recorded in 38 normal African children, living in a Catholique Mission in Ivory Coast, and in 93 normal Italian children. IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3 and ALS were evaluated in all subjects. Results: A normal height in spite of markedly reduced IGF-I, IGFBP-3, ALS and BMI was observed in African children, while the ratio IGF-I/IGFBP-3 was comparable in the two populations. IGF-II was slightly but significantly higher in Africans than in Italians. Conclusions: In Africans a suboptimal nutritional condition may produce a dramatic reduction of IGF-I, ALS and IGFBP-3, although the final height results minimally affected. This suggests that only a small fraction of the circulating IGF-I is sufficient for growth and confirms what has been reported on liver IGF-I-deficient and ALS knock-out mice. The secular statural trend observed in developed countries is probably due to the increase of IGF-I consequent to the improved nutritional conditions.
AB - Objective: Genetic factors are the most important determinant of final height in developed countries, while in underprivileged countries food intake is crucial. Nutrients, in turn, may importantly affect IGF-IGFBP system which is a critical regulator of growth. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of nutrition on IGF system components, as well as on growth by comparing these variables in two selected populations of children living either in poor or in privileged environmental conditions. Design: Height and weight were recorded in 38 normal African children, living in a Catholique Mission in Ivory Coast, and in 93 normal Italian children. IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3 and ALS were evaluated in all subjects. Results: A normal height in spite of markedly reduced IGF-I, IGFBP-3, ALS and BMI was observed in African children, while the ratio IGF-I/IGFBP-3 was comparable in the two populations. IGF-II was slightly but significantly higher in Africans than in Italians. Conclusions: In Africans a suboptimal nutritional condition may produce a dramatic reduction of IGF-I, ALS and IGFBP-3, although the final height results minimally affected. This suggests that only a small fraction of the circulating IGF-I is sufficient for growth and confirms what has been reported on liver IGF-I-deficient and ALS knock-out mice. The secular statural trend observed in developed countries is probably due to the increase of IGF-I consequent to the improved nutritional conditions.
KW - Height secular trend
KW - IGF-I
KW - IGF-II
KW - Nutrition
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67349274121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=67349274121&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ghir.2008.10.005
DO - 10.1016/j.ghir.2008.10.005
M3 - Article
VL - 19
SP - 238
EP - 241
JO - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Supplement
JF - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Supplement
SN - 1096-6374
IS - 3
ER -